Toyota Industries develops hybrid fuel cell/battery forklift
In Japan, Toyota Industries Corporation has developed a fuel cell/battery hybrid system for use in forklifts, which offers more efficient operation than conventional battery-powered models because no charging is required. The hybrid system has been mounted in a fuel cell forklift, called the Toyota FCHV-F, which was exhibited at the recent CeMAT materials handling and logistics trade fair in Hannover, Germany.
The prototype forklift is equipped with a fuel cell system that the firm co-developed with Toyota Motor Corporation. At present the vehicle can run continuously for about 4 h, which is about half the runtime of batterypowered models. The firm hopes to boost the operating time to about 8 h by increasing the size of the hydrogen storage tank and other measures. The new machine can lift a maximum of 2500 kg, the same as the company's existing electric forklift.
The forklift features electric double-layer capacitors adopted to efficiently operate with the fuel cell, despite interruptions in current input and output occurring resulting from the forklift's frequent starts and stops. Product reliability has been ensured by utilizing the highperformance Toyota FC Stack, as well as other components developed for use in fuel cell vehicles. The forklift incorporates a module cartridge-type frame that integrates components such as the stack and the high-pressure hydrogen tank.
Toyota Industries expects demand from large distribution centers and other sites where forklifts are operated for extended periods. The Canadian companies Cellex Power Products and General Hydrogen are also developing fuel cell powered forklifts using Ballard fuel cell modules [FCB, October].